Sadly, the Democratic Women’s Working Group has adopted the weaker strategy. The members fail to oppose the work requirements directly, or even mention that the budget bill is not the place to debate welfare reform changes. In a recent letter, Democratic members of the House provide this explanation for opposition to welfare reauthorization in the budget reconciliation bill: Welfare: The Budget Reconciliation bill includes the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which raises work requirements for working families on welfare without providing adequate funding for childcare. As a result, 100,000 families will lose access to quality, affordable childcare and states will be forced to shift existing childcare funds to cover the shortfall. There are approximately 270,000 children of low-wage working parents who are not on welfare. These working families will also lose their childcare assistance as a result of the irresponsible Reconciliation bill.